Middle English Dictionary Entry
sē̆ǧǧe n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | sē̆ǧǧe n.(2) Also segg, seg(e, segh(e, (early) sæg & (error) gegge; pl. segges, etc. & seggus, (gen.) segge. |
| Etymology | OE secg a man. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A man; a person; pl. men; people, folk; ~ werk, human handiwork.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2217 : Belin ihærde sugge þurh summe sæg treowe of his broðer wifðinge.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2548 : Þer weore segge [Otho: gleomenne] songe; þer were pipen i-magge.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3985 : Heo ledden in heore scipen..moni sorh-fulne sæg [Otho: cniht], sare iwunded.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3997 : Ful soh seide þe seg [Otho: man] þe þeos saȝe talde.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11722 : Folc feol to uolden..græmende segges gras-bæd isohten.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)226 : So fair a siȝt of seg ne sawe he neuer are.
- a1400 Primer (StJ-C G.24)35 : Ther seete seges in doom.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)3.52 : Iche segge [vrr. segg; man, folke; C: seg; vr. segh] shal se I am sistir of ȝour hous.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)833 : Þe seggez haden souped and seten bot a whyle.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)409 : Muche sorȝe þenne satteled vpon segge Jonas.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)574 : Þenne set þay þe sabatounz vpon þe segge fotez.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)707 : Þay seȝe neuer no segge þat watz of suche hwez of grene.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)289 : A knyghte salle..at carelyone be crownede for kynge; That sege salle be sesede at a sesone.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1574 : I had leuer see hym synke on the salte strandez, Than the seegge ware seke, þat es so sore woundede.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)227/190 : Swilke a seege as þi selff Sewes to þer sight.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)165 : Þe seggus..he sai biȝonde þe side stronde.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)86 : Þer is comyn with him knyȝt..Segis of many syde oute of sere remys.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)111 : With þat þe gegge [read: segge] all him selfe silis to his chambre.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2286 : 'Sirres, by my sothe,' quod þe segge [Dub: seghe], 'Sitiles I hiȝt.'
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4473 : Ȝe ioyen vp templis With Imagis of ȝoure ydolatry..Þat nouthire siȝt has ne saule bot of segge werke.
- a1500(c1400) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)204 : Vche segge þat him sewide þe same faythe trowid.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)232 : Many a seemeli segge sorowe they wrought.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1150(?OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)140/19 : Mann sægð þæt fram þan time þe ærest Adam gescapen wæs, oððe Cristes tocyme, wæron agane fif þusend & fif hundred & fif & twentig geare, swaswa writen segges.
Note: Antedates word.
Note: The text (according to the same quot. found in MED under writ n., sense 3.(b)) has 'seggeð' not 'segges'. This quot. is found neither under wrïten v. nor under seien v.(1), which is probably where it belongs.--per MLL